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You have a right to know how the food you are eating has been treated.
Cooking, canning, freezing are obvious. Most food that can be legally irradiated in the US doesn't have to be labeled.
Science Top
- April 17, 2001: "Preventing Pathogenic Food
Poisoning: Sanitation Not Irradiation" by Samuel Epstein, M.D., recently published..
- April 15, 2001: A short
description of some animal health problems found in scientific studies on food irradiation, with references.
- March 14, 2001: The dangers of irradiation facilities: worker exposure and contamination
- March 14, 2001: The Problems with
Irradiated Food - What the Research Says (search for this title on the page)
- February 18, 2001: Public Citizen issues press
release and a translation of a well-conducted German study (PDF-large
file) or (RTF--smaller but missing two graphics) that
found that irradiation of food creates a chemical that causes mutations (2-DCB) in rats.
- November 30, 2000: Our comments to the FDA about
its ridiculous approval of irradiation (up to 8 kGray) for seeds that will be sprouted--without any labeling requirements
for the sprouts! See FDA document.
- From Public Citizen and the Cancer Prevention Coalition. A
documented report blasting the FDA's science:
"How the FDA legalized and continues to legalize food irradiation without
testing it for safety." Executive
Summary only.
- A chemist's analysis: Cancer danger of irradiation-created
chemicals in the diet. This demolishes the "science" behind the FDA's approval of irradiation for
fruits and vegetables.
- June 2, 2000: Scientific
references for harmful effects of irradiation.
- 1990: "Zapping the food supply", a critique of the science behind FDA approval of food irradiation, from the Bulletin of
the Atomic Scientists, by Donald Louria, M.D., an impartial reviewer.
Did you know that slaughtered meat/poultry can
be stamped "USDA Inspected" if there is only ONE government inspector at the end of the line, that "inspects"
two chickens per second? This system is being put into U.S. chicken slaughterhouses right now.
Articles and Background Top
- August 8, 2001: Washington
Post overview article about an E.coli food poisoning case and why it occurred.
- August 1, 2001: Archival Hawaii irradiation page (successor
to site by Hawaii Coalition against Irradiation/Irradiation-Free Food Hawaii).
- May 11, 2001: To find food crops grown from deliberately mutated seeds, look at the IAEA database. (Leave a blank at the top of each box, except for the box(es) containing the
features you want to search for.)
- April 29, 2001: Our supplemental FAQ (frequently asked questions) about
OCA and its sources and position on irradiation.
- November 22, 2000: FAQ about the Codex Alimentarius,
the international authority that sets the standards for global trade in food..
- Our rebuttal of the FDA's "official"
pro-irradiation brochure.
- Alternatives to irradiation for different foods
and news about promising technologies. THIS PAGE IS REGULARLY UPDATED.
- Simple explanation of irradiation for small children.
- October 30, 2000: The health costs of low-level
ionizing radiation. Think three steps ahead with this scenario: And widespread electron-beam
irradiation of ground beef and chicken in the U.S. begat U.S.-sponsored World Trade rules that forced other countries
to stop labeling irradiated foods, which encouraged nuclear irradiation in countries without cheap and reliable
electricity, and revived nuclear irradiation in the U.S., which increased nuclear production and transport worldwide,
which increased nuclear accidents and low-level radiation worldwide.
- September 4, 2000: The problems with risk assessment
(the statistical method and philosophy the FDA used to decide that irradiation is 'safe' for fruits and vegetables.
It's also used for nearly all regulatory decisions in the U.S.)
- "Why vegetarians should care about
meat/poultry irradiation" - revised February 2001.
- Labeling of irradiated foods in the U.S. - updated
March 15, 2001.
- Information on electron-beam irradiation.
- An introduction to free radicals, which are created
by irradiation.
- Irradiation kills/deactivates the digestive enzymes in raw foods: information on enzymes. An alternative
scientific view supporting raw food because of its vitamins, not its enzymes.
- Irradiation supports the environmentally unsustainable and inhumane system of factory animal production. For
information on factory farming, begin with the Humane
Farming Association and FARM (Farm
Animal Reform Movement). Also see Books below.
- The radura (the symbol that means food has been irradiated) is almost identical to the Environmental Protection
Agency's eco-friendly symbol! Compare them.
- June 20, 2000: Why we don't trust transport of nuclear
materials - an unsolicited anecdote.
- May 2, 2000: The current FDA regulation on labeling.
- April 6, 2000: Some groups and companies in the food
industry that want to use irradiation.
- January 27, 1999 - A history of worker
exposure in irradiation facilities worldwide.
Two-month irradiated tomatoes benefit the grocer,
not the consumer.
Food Irradiation News Archive See also Meat/Poultry
Industry News Top
- November 12, 2001: The Defense Department plans to purchase irradiated ground beef and poultry products for
the military.
- November 8, 2001: Miami-based Bounty Fresh, LLC, an importer and national distributor of fresh fruits and vegetables,
has signed a product testing and collaboration agreement with SureBeam to evaluate e-beam irradiation to increase
shelf-life. SureBeam will also be evaluated as an alternative treatment for traditional environmental pest control
treatments currently required by USDA.
- November 6, 2001: USDA
list of E. coli 0157:H7 found in year 2001 tests of meat.
- October 22, 2001: Electronic
and x-ray irradiation facility opens in Glendale Heights, IL (Chicago). Company spokesman says that consumers
pay about 35 cents more per pound for irradiated meat.
- October 19, 2001: Tainted, antibiotic-resistant
meat and poultry common in US.
- October 11, 2001: MDS Nordion and IBA have designed and are planning to market a new system for X-ray irradiation
for meat, poultry, ready-to-eat products, fruits and vegetables on pallets in their original packaging without
removing the stretch wrap. Products on pallets can be taken directly off the truck and processed. (X-rays have
the penetration strength necessary to irradiate any food product in its current packaging.) This process will allow
irradiation to be integrated seamlessly into the food processor's distribution network. Hormel is interested in
using the technology.
- October 9, 2001: Victory for activists: US Department of Agriculture tells SureBeam: You
can't call irradiation 'pasteurization' (at least not under current regulations).
- September 20, 2001: Doctors' group petitions US government
to protect public from feces on poultry and meat, and to declare feces an adulterant. Poll finds that 84% of adults
have no idea that the primary source of Salmonella, Campylobacter, E. coli, and other foodborne pathogens
on poultry and meat is animal excrement.
- September 10, 2001: Irradiated Meat Fails in Florida
and Wisconsin; Major Chain and Producer Drop Controversial Beef Patties.
- September 8, 2001: US food industry and irradiation
advocates are at odds over Salmonella in ground beef. OCA comment: This
apparently boring story is the "back story" to current irradiation policy in the U.S. The big companies
in the food industry (through their mouthpiece, the National Food Processors Assn) oppose a proposed zero-tolerance
plan for Salmonella bacteria, which is a common contaminant in ground beef. At present, the USDA allows a maximum
of 7.5% Salmonella in ground beef. Last year the USDA cancelled contracts with a major supplier of ground beef
who failed the tests several times. The meat industry was furious. (However, a federal judge prohibited the USDA
from enforcing the 7.5% requirement.) Now, Sen. Harkin of Iowa, an irradiation advocate, is pushing a zero-tolerance
requirement. He wants to attach an amendment to an upcoming Senate bill to require zero-tolerance. The only
ways to achieve zero tolerance are irradiation or buying from suppliers that produce in a slower and cleaner fashion.
The NFPA doesn't like either alternative.
In summary, the food industry prefers that the USDA NOT require Salmonella-free beef; partly because they fear
consumer backlash from the expanded use of irradiation that will follow, partly because until irradiation is widespread,
many companies will have their USDA contracts cancelled because they can't meet the zero-tolerance level. Sen.
Harkin wants Salmonella-free beef to be required, which means--in practice--that all USDA beef suppliers will want
to use irradiation. In Spring 2001, USDA Secretary Veneman proposed buying irradiated meat for the school lunch
program but dropped the plan. Harkin is now trying to require the USDA to purchase irradiated meat by setting a
USDA standard that can't be achieved any other way except irradiation. The underlying question for consumers is:
why is so much beef contaminated with Salmonella that the meat industry thinks it's impossible to meet the 7.5%
maximum contamination level? The answer is: the US
factory farming system.
- August 8, 2001: Public Citizen and the
Center for Food Safety today urged an international panel to refrain from loosening global food irradiation standards,
including a proposed rule that would allow any food to be irradiated at any dose--no matter how high. The
groups filed comments with the Executive Committee of the Codex Alimentarius Commission. Codex plans to hold a
special session some time this fall to consider the proposal. See earlier news story.
- July 30, 2001: Irradiated
meat a flop with Wisconsin consumers.
- July 24, 2001: Bad news: On July 19th, the U.S. Senate confirmed anti-regulation Harvard professor John Graham
to oversee the nation's environmental and public health regulations. As the administrator of the Information and
Regulatory Affairs Office in the Office of Management and Budget, he will be the ``gatekeeper'' for federal regulations.
Graham would be responsible for interpreting rules on air and water pollution, auto emissions, tobacco, worker
safety and food safety. In 1996, Graham told political strategists at the rabidly pro-corporation Heritage Foundation
that "environmental regulation should be depicted as an incredible intervention in the operation of society."
- July 17, 2001: Consumers unanimously rebuff
industry-backed alternative wording for irradiated food labels--a report on focus groups.
- July 12, 2001: President Bush nominates irradiation supporter Elsa Murano from Texas A&M to
oversee USDA's food-safety programs; confirmation by the Senate expected. USDA is
responsible for ensuring the safety of meat and poultry products. USDA shares regulation of eggs with the Food
and Drug Administration. FDA regulates other foods.
- June 22, 2001: Kemin Industries plans to nuke its chicken-feed products at Food Technology in Mulberry, Florida.
Kemin products are used in human food and vitamins, pet food diets, and animal feeds.
- June 20, 2001: House Appropriations Committee strips
funding for nonpartisan FDA research on irradiation.
- June 14, 2001: Huisken Meats is introducing a new product line of irradiated ground beef patties in 22 states.
If you see these products, tell your grocer not to carry them, or give them literature
about irradiation.
- June 7, 2001: Virulent antibiotic-resistant
bacteria widespread in U.S. poultry and meat.
- May 11, 2001: How the new federal tax cut affects enforcement
of laws and regulations. (With a chronically underfunded FDA and USDA, irradiation solves the problem of regulation:
it shifts the cost of inspection and safe food onto the consumer, and removes the producer's liability for any
health consequences!)
- May 7, 2001: Excel Corporation, one of the three largest beef and pork producers in the US, plans to use irradiation
inside two of Excel's processing/slaughter facilities, located in Schuyler, Nebraska, and Plainview, Texas. (Note:
these products are sold under many labels, and to food service and manufacturers.)
- April 17, 2001: Expired US Action Alert: Tell
Congress you don't want the USDA to allow irradiated meat in the federal School Lunch Program. Comments by Dr. Samuel Epstein
- April 26, 2001: E-beam company plans e-beam/x-ray irradiation facility near Los Angeles (probably Vernon or
Commerce), to open by the end of 2001, with an annual processing capacity of >250 million pounds. It will process
"meat and other fresh and frozen food products and spices," which in layperson's language means "any
of the following: meat, poultry, shellfish, wheat, fruits, vegetables, seeds for sprouting, shell eggs, herbs,
teas."
- April 17, 2001: The FDA has approved irradiation of various animal feeds and feed ingredients for microbial
control. This rule is effective April 10, 2001
- April 13, 2001: Rochester Meat, a privately held company in Rochester, Minnesota, will use irradiation on its
ground beef products, portion cut steaks and pork products. It sells nationwide to the foodservice industry.
- April 7, 2001: W.W. Johnson Meat Co. of Minneapolis, MN, plans to irradiate its line
of ground beef.
- April 5, 2001: Bush administration proposes irradiation of ground beef for schools; would no longer require the meat to be sampled for Salmonella
bacteria. Read our coalition's press release.
- March 29, 2001: Public Citizen files false
advertising complaint against Omaha Steaks for irradiated beef ads.
- March 27, 2001: SureBeam Corp. plans to open an electronic-beam irradiation facility in Chicagoland in 3rd
quarter of 2001. It plans to irradiate over 250 million pounds annually of meat or other fresh and frozen food
products and spices. (Note: "other" at this time may include poultry, pork, fruits, vegetables, seeds
for sprouting, shell eggs and dietary supplement ingredients, most not labeled.)
- March 11, 2001: FDA rules that food packaging materials can be irradiated by more than one kind of technology.
Formerly, prepackaged foods could only be irradiated by gamma irradiation. The new rule permits the use of X-ray
and electron beam energy sources as well for treating prepackaged foods with ionizing radiation.
- March 1, 2001: Update on irradiated beef sales: low
demand, retailers reluctant to tell customers. Irradiated ground beef also fails the taste test. (Watch out: the
industry is planning a consumer campaign to stress the health benefits of irradiated food.)
- February 10, 2001: Anti-irradiation opinion piece published in Minneapolis Star Tribune, "You
want cesium with that?"
- February 10, 2001: National Fisheries Institute files
request for FDA to allow irradiation of raw, frozen or already cooked crustaceans (lobsters, shrimp, crabs).
- February 10, 2001: Who wants to use irradiation? Check out the list of registrants at a February
24-26 pro-irradiation conference in Washington DC. Public Citizen was the ONLY irradiation opponent present.
- February 2001: In March 2001, a committee of the Codex Alimentarius, the unelected body that regulates world
food trade, will meet to consider a proposal to eliminate the maximum dose limit for irradiated
food (currently set at 10 kiloGray,the equivalent of 330 million chest x-rays). Why
this is a very bad proposal.
- January 26, 2001: Reports from government meat/poultry inspectors are confirmed: For
new hires, USDA's FSIS does not require any experience with farming or meat cutting, or knowledge of animal anatomy.
By hiring people who can only be "paper pushers" and who lack the knowledge to challenge company
inspectors, the FSIS takes another step to turning over all physical inspection to the industry. The
USDA "Seal of Approval" doesn't mean what it used to!
- January 14, 2001: The USDA has granted approval to use nuclear (gamma) irradiation to treat ground beef, pork
and poultry products at a Schaumburg, Illinois, facility owned and managed by IBA.
- January 12, 2001: E. coli inhibitor effective in independent tests. Nymox Pharmaceutical Corp. (New York, NY)
announced that tests conducted at the Department of Food Science at the University of Manitoba demonstrated that
the company's novel proprietary antibacterial agent, NXC 4720, completely eliminated E. coli 0157:H7 in a laboratory
model of a livestock gut.
- January 11, 2001: After the likely Tyson takeover of beef giant IBP, read about a few of President
Clinton's favors to IBP and Tyson, from the Agribusiness Examiner.
- December 22, 2000: Sizzler profits hurt by E. coli
outbreak; irradiation would not have prevented problem.
- December 17, 2000: American irradiators will continue to get their cobalt-60 from Canada: The Department of
Energy (DOE) has decided not to restart the Fast Flux Test Facility (nuclear reactor) in Hanford, Washington. (Among
other uses, this reactor could provide the U.S. with a domestic source of cobalt-60). However, the Bush DOE may
prove more industry-friendly...
- December 14, 2000: Is diseased and unwholesome
meat passing under inspection system that replaces USDA inspectors with company employees? Find out for yourself:
read the transcript of a Cleveland-area news report. (Click on November 13 story in left column)
- December 6, 2000: FDA allows ultraviolet irradiation for "fresh" juice products, effective November
29, 2000. [Comment: Although UV radiation does not damage the food as much as ionizing irradiation, the food IS
damaged-- the petitioner admitted that 13% of the Vitamin C in orange juice was destroyed.]
- December 4, 2000: Sauk Rapids, Minnesota City Council gives Huisken Meats economic development funds to rehabilitate
a meat processing plant and incorporate an irradiation facility in the plant.
- November 24, 2000: Another incremental step intended to make irradiation 'necessary': USDA
turns over responsibility for inspection of ready-to-eat meat products to the manufacturers. Expect this result:
increased risk of listeriosis, and manufacturers 'demand' for irradiation.
- November 22, 2000: International World Health Organization panel--stacked with food corporations and supported
by the US government--decides "no limit
on irradiation dosage is necessary" for the world's food supply.
- November 21, 2000: IBP Corp., the world's largest meat producer, said that it will use at least one e-beam
irradiation system to irradiate beef directly on its production line. Analysts expect Titan to charge IBP five
cents per pound.
- November 21, 2000: Omaha Steaks will use electron-beam irradiation on its ground beef products, the company
said Friday. A voluntary recall by Omaha Steaks of about 11 tons of ground beef last month because of possible
contamination with E. coli O157:H7 had no direct bearing on the decision to use irradiation, said a spokeswoman.
- November 16, 2000: Under the GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade) Treaty, any country that exports
irradiated food must agree to accept the import of irradiated food. [So if the US starts
exporting irradiated meat, US residents will not be able to avoid other unlabeled irradiated food imported
from other countries. Most if not all of it will be nuclear-irradiated.]
- November 6, 2000: New pathogen controls for meat production.
- November 6, 2000: Consumer deception ahead: President signs law that tells the FDA: Choose a
'friendly' word to be used instead of "irradiation" on labels by early 2002.
- October 30, 2000: American Foodservice, one of the largest U.S. independent producers of ground beef, plans
to use electron beam irradiation. They supply Burger King and other fast food companies. (Plants are located at
400 Drew Court, King of Prussia, PA, 19406, 610/277-5010, and 1301 Northpark Drive, Forth Worth, TX, 76102, 817/332-5807).
- October 16, 2000: United Food Group (Supreme Packing Co., Miller Beef, Moran's Ground Beef, Los Angeles) has
signed up for irradiation. The company manufactures approximately 400 different fresh and frozen ground beef products
for the retail and food service markets.
- October 12, 2000: USDA researchers to study irradiation in order to "optimize its benefits" for industry.
In a five-year agreement between the Agricultural Research Service Food Safety Research Unit (part of USDA) and
Ion Beam Application's Food Safety Division (Memphis, TN), ARS will use IBA’s facilities to compare the effectiveness
of gamma, electron-beam and X-ray sources in controlling food-borne pathogens. They will also examine how these
treatments affect the properties of food such as taste and texture, and how to optimize the benefits of the process.
- October 2, 2000: Food Irradiation Processing Alliance formed: a trade association of irradiators that will
provide public relations and "consumer education" for food industry clients that want to use irradiation.
- September 26, 2000: Very
interesting survey of meat/poultry inspectors (look for "The Jungle") says new HACCP-based inspection
system is not working. If you eat commercial meat/poultry, READ THIS.
- September 26, 2000: Consumers in Europe are skeptical about
irradiation.
- August 29, 2000: A Canadian
fish company sues nuclear irradiator Food Technology Service of Florida for "over-irradiation," causing
"color change, offensive odor and rendering the [sockeye salmon] unfit for human consumption." The fish
was intended for Japan.
- August 24, 2000: National Academies report: Management
of 'legacy' nuclear waste sites, like the highly contaminated Fast Flux Test Facility in Hanford, WA, should use
the precautionary approach. Therefore, the public should reject the current proposal
to reopen the FFTF--in part to make Cobalt-60 for food irradiation.
- August 21, 2000: Florida nuclear irradiation company
threatens to sue activists for telling the truth: consumers aren't buying irradiated meats.
- August 2, 2000: Successful protest against irradiated
food in the Twin Cities, Minnesota on July 28th.
- July 24, 2000: U.S. Senate narrowly rejects Harkin-sponsored
bill that would require irradiation for meat.
- July 16, 2000: Two hard-hitting news articles "Meat
from diseased animals approved for consumers" and "Meat with scabs, pus and tumors is OK, USDA says."
- July 13, 2000: Read our article "Food
irradiation: A cover-up for dirty meat and poultry" - in Siren, the alternative media for news, culture
and ideas in the Twin Cities.
- July 11, 2000: A new ultra-high pressure technology harnesses the natural, low-heat power of hydrostatic pressure
to destroy the cell structure of pathogens like Salmonella, Listeria, and E. coli, while maintaining a food's inherent
nutritional value, taste, and color. Fresher
Under Pressure is currently being used in the United States and abroad by manufacturers of fresh juices, sauces,
meats, and seafood. It can replace traditional food safety systems such as pasteurization, irradiation, or chemicals.
- June 26, 2000: A chemist's assessment of cancer danger
of irradiation-created chemicals in the diet. He challenges the science used in FDA's approval of irradiation
for fruits and vegetables.
- June 25, 2000: Meat/poultry industry trade associations have asked USDA-FSIS to change slaughter and processing
regulations to allow irradiation at the end of production. If the USDA says ok, this will mean unlimited
fecal contamination of your food. Public comments to FSIS are due July 14th. See the industry
proposal - the FSIS summary of the industry proposal
- our comments to FSIS.
- June 25, 2000: How much beef & chicken in the U.S. will be irradiated? Companies that produce over 75%
of the U.S.'s 9 billion pounds/year of ground beef and approximately 50% of the nearly 35 billion pounds/year of
poultry have already signed agreements to use irradiation technology.
- June 22, 2000: Titan Corp. to irradiate Brazilian beef,
launches media propaganda campaign. Brazil is also a major orange producer: expect
irradiated orange juice concentrate in the next few years.
- June 16, 2000: Florida residents now
can buy nuked fresh ground beef "for an extra measure of safety" (from what?) from Colorado Boxed
Beef "New Generation" brand.
- June 15, 2000: OCA cosponsors successful rally against irradiation in Minneapolis June 8. A major newspaper,
one radio and four television stations covered the protest.
- May 30, 2000: Consumer Beware: Irradiation
technology goes to Brazil for meats, fruits and vegetables.
- May 26, 2000: Federal judge says HACCP microbial tests are not accurate gauges of whether or not a plant is
clean. USDA cannot shut down a plant that fails the tests. USDA must now find some better method of assuring cleanliness--either
build the inspection force, or require irradiation. Looking a little into the future,
it's obvious that mandatory irradiation of all meat/poultry products is the logical consequence of replacing USDA
inspectors with company personnel and HACCP.
- May 21, 2000: Kraft plans to use irradiation on Oscar Meyer line of meats, awaiting FDA approval of irradiation
for deli/processed meat products.
- May 16, 2000: National
Public Radio's "All Things Considered" airs 15-minute pro-irradiation segment, without a single interview
with irradiation opponents. This show could have been (and probably was) written by the National Food Processors
Association! Tell All Things Considered to air a rebuttal: Expired
action alert. (October 2000 note: NPR never responds to our complaints)
- May 16, 2000: Irradiated beef patties from Huisken Meats go on sale in Minneapolis-area supermarkets today.
- May 4, 2000: Results of poll conducted in The Costco Connection magazine: 74% of Costco members oppose
irradiation of meat and other fresh food products! Nevertheless, Costco misrepresents the results of the poll by
featuring 2 letters for and 2 letters against irradiation in the magazine, implying an evenly divided membership.
- April 23, 2000: Bacteria D. radiodurans survive
3,000 times the lethal human dose of x-rays. They will be genetically engineered and widely used in medicine
and industry. Set loose in the environment, these bacteria may eventually transfer
their resistance to food bacteria like Salmonella.
- April 16, 2000: How multinationals
will use irradiation to dominate the world food supply.
- April 6, 2000: Meat packers will make irradiation
decisions partly based on consumer reaction to irradiated beef sold at Wal-Mart.
- April 4, 2000: SteriGenics will establish the first high-volume, high-power X-ray and electron-beam irradiator
in North America in Bridgeport, NJ, by the end of the year. This month, Griffith Micro Science and MDS Nordion
will jointly open an irradiator using radioactive Cobalt-60 in Mexico City, Mexico.
- February 22, 2000: USDA permits irradiation of raw meats. IBP, Tyson, Colorado Boxed Beef and Excel will be
using irradiation for wholesale and/or retail products. Food service (restaurant, airline, hospital, school) foods
will not have to be labeled. Test markets for retail sales will begin Spring 2000.
- The U.S. Department of Energy will hold an environmental impact meeting in May about its proposal to reopen
the most contaminated site in the Western Hemisphere, the Fast Flux Test Facility on the Hanford, WA, reservation,
in part to create a U.S. manufacturer
of cobalt-60 for food irradiation worldwide (see p. 1 of large pdf file). The decision will be made in December
2000.
- March 1, 2000: An estimated 89% of U.S. beef ground into
patties is contaminated with E. coli 0157H:7.
- January 2000 - Japan to get electronic irradiation facilities; contract signed by Titan and Mitsubishi.
- December 14, 1999 - USDA approves irradiation
for fresh and frozen raw meat products. Irradiated meat used in other products such as bologna also must be
labeled. For unpackaged meat products that do not have labels, the statement and logo must be displayed at
the point of sale to consumers. These labeling requirements do not apply to products purchased through foodservice
operations, such as restaurants. To take effect mid-February 2000.
- November 17, 1999 - E. coli bacteria is in half
of all US cattle.
- October 26, 1999 - Electron-beam irradiation company Titan has signed contracts
(pending USDA approval) with major food processors: IBP, Cargill, ConAgra, Tyson and Emmpack. (This could
affect approximately 75% of U.S. ground beef). A Titan facility will open in Hawaii in July 2000 to irradiate fruit.
- August 1999 - U.S. citizenry sends about 10,000 comments and 19,000 petition signatures to FDA supporting clear,
prominent and permanent labeling of irradiated foods. Look for comments between February and September 1999 on
Docket #98N-1038 in the FDA daily
postings.
- August 1999 - Pro-irradiation
coalition asks FDA to approve irradiation for ready-to-eat foods, including fresh
juices, seeds, sprouts, prepared raw foods, lunch meats and frozen foods. Foods already approved by FDA for irradiation:
meat, poultry, eggs, fruits, vegetables, potatoes, wheat, wheat flour, herb teas, dehydrated vegetables and
spices. (As of May 2001, the FDA has not decided on the petition yet.)
- April 23, 1999 - Our ally Center for Food Safety's Comments
on the USDA/FSIS proposed meat irradiation regulation.
- March 13, 1999 - Two Directives on processing food by ionizing radiation were published in the Official Journal
of the European Communities.
- March 1999 - FDA requests first round of comments on
revision of labeling requirement for irradiated foods: one option is to remove or phase out all labels on all
irradiated foods. (Text of the proposal)
- September 11, 1998 - Scientists discover that simple change in cattle diets before slaughter effectively eliminates E. coli O157:H7.
- August 25, 1998 - President Clinton signed an executive order creating a national
council to oversee food safety. This was the first step to getting government and industry to coordinate efforts
to force irradiated food on the public.
- Report of important meeting involving government, industry
and consumer groups regarding labeling. Consensus is for some kind of permanent labeling. The FDA used this
report in drafting its proposal for revising labeling. However, Congress told FDA to consider removing ALL labels.
- May 1, 1998 - "Organic" label doesn't allow
irradiated food - for now.
- 1998 FDA approves meat irradiation.
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November 29, 2001: FDA is asked to 